Half Day Tour of Peterhof (Petrodvorets)

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Peterhof is perhaps St Petersburg's most famous and spectacular Imperial estate. The Grand Palace, filled with fascinating and elaborate interiors, sits on top of a high seashore ridge overlooking the vast Lower Park. The palace at Peterhof sits amidst an enormous park, adorned with fountains, statues and pavilions. Numbers are limited to 6 people on this small-group tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.

The Upper Garden, located between the St Petersburg highway and the Grand Palace, is a typical French-style formal garden with five fountains including one depicting Neptune, the God of the Sea. The estate's Lower Park lies between the Grand Palace and the seashore and boasts the world's largest system of fountains, earning it the title the "Russian Versaille". The park's unique fountain system was designed in the 18th century and doesn't require the use of any pumps to operate the fountains.

There are three major cascades and over 140 fountains in the park. The most impressive is the Grand Cascade, located directly below the Grand Palace, which features an impressive golden statue of Samson grasping the mighty jaws of the lion. The park's other cascades feature black and white chess board designs, Chinese dragons and numerous other features definitely worth seeing!

USD $110.13

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Evelyn M, Australia	April 2010
A very friendly guide with good English and excellent knowledge, an altogether most satisfying tour.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	March 2010
Wonderful palace and well worth visiting.

Review by: Jorge G, Portugal	August 2009
The guide was fantastic, with a great knowledge about everything and history, always smiling, we really loved it!

Review by: Joseph A, United States of America	August 2009
This is magnificent! Highly recommended!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	April 2009
Great trip and guide.

Review by: Kobus S, South Africa	October 2008
Fantastic, this is one of the must-see excursions in Russia. We had a great guide - very knowledgeable, patient and accommodating. Would use her again. All the arrangements were done professionally, and we got value for money.

Review by: Kinne H, United States of America	September 2008
Peterhof is an hour out of St. Petersburg through terrible traffic over mediocre roads but worth the trip. The palace itself is in the same opulent style as the other palaces, i.e. the Winter, Catherine's, Pavlovsk. The unique aspects of the palace are the amazing and beautiful waterworks and the surrounding park with its streams and walkways. The park is a relaxing stroll after several days of touring palaces and the like. If possible book in the morning to avoid the massive crowds in the palace, and request an experienced guide who not only knows the subject matter but can stand up to the guides for the large tours and the palace attendants that try to bulldoze the private tours. Also insist on a comfortable vehicle for a three-hour trip, otherwise you may share the backseat of a small Citroen with someone else for those three hours, as the two of us did.